Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-14
THE GAY WHITE.
rHnBFIrLIsRr GERMAN TO MRS. NOR.
BIS AND MRS. SECONDS.
A Continued Round Of esyety-Mrs. Plea.
sonton the social Lesder-Tho beau
ties from Richmond, 60.
WnIrE SULPHUB SPRINGS, !
August ID, 1887. I

August IL, 1887.
TO the Editor of The Dispatch:
The characteristic feature at the
White this summer up to within a
week has been its extreme quiet. But,
Us if to make up for lost time, every
day now is filed with changing events.
For several years we have felt the
want of social leader, but this season
Mrs. Frank Pleasanton, of Philadel-
phia, has shown herself worthy of this
honor. She is always making pleasure
for the young people, and adds greatly
to the enjoyment of all by her agreea-
BILE, charming manners Where she
leads others can safely follow.
On Wednesday night the Irish Club
gave an elaborate supper in the private
dining-room. Covers were laid for Sc
venteen couples, ten courses were
served, comprising everything tempt
ing, and the hilarity was kept up for
several hours.
On Thursday night the most elegant
german of the season was given by Mr..
Dickinson, ofNew York, to his daughter,
Mrs. Norris, of Richmond, and Mrs.
Semonds, of South Carolina. The
dressing on this occasion was extremely
elegant, and the grand old ballroom
never was graced by more bewitching
loneliness. But to attempt to describe
the costumes would be an jmpossibility
for non professional. l can simply
say al were exquisitely beautiful. Sc
ven hundred fayors were distributed,
most of them quite handsome. Re
freshments were served in the ball.
room, consisting OF claret punch, sand
wiches, champagne punch, and ices.
This affair viii long be remembered rs
one of the most enjoyable events of
"The White"
Last night, as you are already APP
prised, the Growing Hen Society gave
an entertainment on the lawn. This
was the most agreeable one of the an
nual parties. Each young man con-
tributed -, and this entitled him to
two tickets. 1t is an unusual thing for
q lady TO refuse an invitations but
there was at least one from Richmond,
who, after accepting the first one Of
fered, was compelled to decline three
others. Tables dotted the shady hooks,
and were tastefully spread, seating
several guests at each, with servants in
attendance, &c. About o'clock the
band headed the procession, starting
from the south-parlor door, and
marched thence to the lawn-tennis
grounds, where pictures were taken of
the immense group, comprising largely
over u hundred figures. Most of the
girls wore white, with sashes and para
soils Of gay and distinct coloring, with
flowers AMI ribbons al H5itum AT in
.fnitlOn, making a scene of gorgeous
brilliancy seldom excelled by IN out
door assembly.
Is there any beauty here ? Well.
no; not one beautiful woman, Judged
from q Richmond standpoint. But
ones standard is rather elevated when
such women as Mrs. Haxall, Allen,
Whitlock, Register, and others can af-
fond to stay at home rather than be
the admired of all admirers at a
gay watering-place.
Any pretty girls? Oh, yes very
many. Indeed, there arc more pretty
faces than one would see anywhere out
side of Virginia. Richmond is still
ahead, however. Misses Handy, Brock,
Rogers, Winston, Lay, and Myers are
a bevy of whom any city might Justly
be proud.
lime was-not very long ago-when
non-dancers were considered social
bank1upts, but such is not the case
now. A young lady can be belle and
not enter the ballroom, for it becomes |
more and more apparent that the best
men-that is, the most agreeable, in
tellectual substantial men-do not
dance, and cultivated girl need have |
no fear of being wall flower" even
when the german is in progress.
The air is full of reports of coming |
events-germans and other things-for |
next week, which promise much for |
these charming summer days. Rex.